Medal for every Fijian
A humble Jerry Tuwai had this to say as he was bestowed with the Order of Fiji Medal: “It was an honour to represent Fiji and I am grateful for the support that all Fijians have shown me. This medal is for every Fijian and I thank you all for having faith in me and for always cheering for me and the team whenever we play. To those who love playing rugby and want to pursue it, don’t give up. Have faith in yourself and in God. Don’t follow other people’s footsteps, always make your own.” Indeed, such powerful words of inspiration and wisdom from our little master and the 2019 World Rugby Best 7s Player of the Year. Our current sports personalities and those who want to make a name in rugby have so much to learn from our nippy halfback who has been admired by people from all walks of life for his humility and down-to-earth qualities. I salute Little Jerry and I thank our 7s think tank for his dedication and commitment that makes him a legend alongside the great Serevi. All the best Jerry as you prepare for the 7s season! RAJNESH ISHWAR LINGAM, Nadawa, Nasinu
Sea encroachment
Driving regularly along the Galoa Coast, I noticed the sea appears to have encroached on a lot of areas just beside the main Queens Rd. This is of great concern as there would be huge traffic congestion and daily interruptions if the sea were to overwhelm the road at any point. The cost for a new road later would be bigger than some remedial work now. I hope that the Government would take this into account before it is too late. Conan Hatch Nadi Airport
Cassava business
Cassava “A billion-dollar industry” looks very tempting (FT 24/11). I remember about 20 years back a parliamentarian said that he would make ethanol from cassava and had planted cassava everywhere. Nothing eventuated and the cassava got rotten in the fields. I hope this is not another case like that but if that is possible then we all should support that. Nardeo Mishra Suva
COVID-19 vaccine
I have done literary searches on the subject, one such site is appended. A letter writer has posed the question as to the possibility of opening our borders, without quarantine, now that vaccines are available against COVID-19. In the short to medium term, I would be very much against this move based on the following. That the vaccines “work” is beyond dispute, but exactly how they work, how long they work for, and their “effectiveness” is unclear. Firstly, most are about 90 per cent “effective”. Does this mean that after vaccinations have been completed, 10 per cent of those vaccinated, have no protection at all? If this is the case, will they have been issued a vaccination certificate? Clarification required here. It is unclear how vaccines work. Do they completely protect the person from contacting COVID-19 at any time, or do they destroy COVID-19 completely in an infected person rendering them safe from infecting others? Another likely scenario is they mitigate the COVID-19 symptoms of infected persons, but leave them capable of infecting others? That scenario brings into question the validity of certificates. Obviously, as the vaccines have not had lengthy trials, it is going to be difficult right now to assess how long the vaccines will be effective for. Given the opportunity, I would be very pleased to get vaccinated. However, in terms of border opening based on vaccination certificates, there is yet sufficient knowledge to justify proceeding with this. Certainly, Fijians must be protected first. As the question has been asked, the Health Ministry should respond. Allan Loosley Tavua
New cases
Another three border COVID-19 cases have been recorded. No doubt our people are happy to be home having gone overseas for whatever business they went to do. And most importantly families in Fiji who have their loved ones back home. To the medical and border teams, thank you. Allen Lockington Kava Place, Lautoka
Police cases
IT’S quite normal that any high profile case is bound to attract heightened public interest. But that does not mean it should be accorded any special treatment or urgency. There are a few unresolved murder cases which have been pending for some time where the perpetrators are still on the loose. Yet there seems to be little concern about them. Will they ever be brought to justice? In my view, all the cases should be given equal importance and we should allow the police investigation process to take its course. However, just as justice must be seen to be done all complaints must be seen to be investigated in a fair and transparent manner. SELWA NANDAN Lautoka
Police force
Sometimes, as statistics clearly show, justice to the downtrodden and less fortunate, can be elusive. Finances are just out of reach. The rich and affluent can easily afford the very best of lawyers. For victims, speaking out is often extremely tough. Generally, confidence in our police force, is, at best, a resentment. NGOs, women’s groups and faith-based groups’ effort need far greater involvement to win public confidence in our police force. There are many good officers. Sometimes, we strike the not-so-good ones. Going to police stations to lodge, report or make complaints can be arduous and stressful. There is this lingering shadow of doubt, we may not be heard. Public perceptions are powerful. Reference is made to Julie Sutherland, FT Tuesday, Nov 24, 2020. Ms Sutherland’s gut-wrenching accounts of physical and mental abuses are clearly indicative of victims’ suffering. They leave indelible mental scars. More than mere words can say. Our professionally-caring legal minds and lawmakers must, henceforth, pay immense and urgent attention, to domestic, sexual, physical and mental violence in lazer-focused and minute detail, where victims are concerned. Deeds, not just words, and verbal jargon. Thank you for your kind words expressed, Ms Sutherland. I am truly humbled. Earthly pilgrimage can be wrought with much pain and suffering; and indelible hurts. In this often cruel world, staying strong and carrying on one day at a time, is easier said than done. When depression sets in, personal efforts for survival are often unseen, unheard. In my own encounters, “hanging on to my faith” has seen me through. “Stop the world, and let me get off” must never be an option. Admittedly, our daily crosses can be burdensome. Trust the Lord your God, He, and He alone will eventually see you through. Like Christ, pre-Calvary, we too are subjected to our own human humiliations. Better days are ahead. Ronnie Chang Martintar, Nadi
Repatriation flights and Blue Lane – LETTER OF THE MONTH AUGUST
I HAVE gone on record more than once via the Times, praising the government response, the health services, and other relevant agencies, in the containment of COVID-19 in Fiji. At the moment I see no reason to change this stance. However, I would not be alone in being concerned about repatriation flights and this Blue Lane initiative. Of course I am not against repatriation, but there is something lacking when a repatriation flight from India arrives in Fiji with 10 per cent of the passengers on board going on to develop full blown COVID-19. Many countries allowing repatriation flights require all passengers to present a properly validated COVID-19 certificate showing that three days before they can board the flight they are COVID-19 free. Was this practised on the flight in question? If not, it should be. Why was the flight operated by Garuda, an Indonesian airline, and allowed to stop three times before reaching Fiji? Were passengers from other countries on board? Indonesia is a hotbed for the virus. I know there are all sorts of regulations around about which airline can fly where, but surely a case can be made for the use of Fiji Airways aircraft that can fly to and from India non-stop. In terms of India, the total recorded cases of COVID-19, as of today (yesterday) is 1.75 million, which, as things go, means the real number could be close to 3.5 million. It is clear that great care must be exercised in choosing those for repatriation. The same can be said now for repatriations from Australia, which while having an excellent record in the past, has lost the plot with rapidly, rising infection rates. Some would accuse me of scaremongering, but does the “average” Fijian (as we are so insultingly referred to by the government minister) know that total cases of COVID-19 worldwide is 18 million, rising by 1 million every three to four days now. It is a pandemic totally out of control in most of the world, we cannot ever afford to let our guards down and let it get back here. Repatriations and this Blue Lane initiative are the only ways it can. Government should inform the public weekly on the numbers of repatriations and Blue Lane arrivals, we deserve that. ALLAN LOOSLEY, Tavua
Biden’s Cabinet nominee
President-elect Joe Biden’s Cabinet nominee for Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, the first woman to hold that post, said she will “always speak truth to power. You know I never shy away from that” (ABC World News Tonight 25/11 ). That’s something people everywhere who are committed to upholding democratic good governance can draw inspiration from. Rajend Naidu Sydney, Australia
The race
Many view life as a race where some win and some lose the race. Multiple pathways are possible in this race. But what is the prize for winning the race? Many are still searching for the answers to this and many for the meaning of this race. Bhagwanji Bhindi Suva
SODELPA government
In case SODELPA forms the next government, based on current trends, I believe their members in Parliament may end up debating each other when Bills get tabled. Mohammed Imraz Janif Natabua, Lautoka
US presidency
The US’s Inauguration Day, is just less than a month away, although President Trump has not yet (at this time) conceded, it is agreed that at the polls he was surely defeated, however, the President had since sought the court’s ruling, on a number of lawsuits filed on alleged fraud during polling, so we may not really know who the President will be, until very close to the inauguration on January 20, if it is going to be a Biden Administration, than we hope that it will really augur well for all the Pacific island nations. Edward Blakelock Admiral Circle, Pacific Harbour
Technical colleges
Allow me to comment on the recent announcement on the Fiji technical college debacle. Government should revisit its decision to close some of them which will affect teachers who are employed in these colleges. We are very much concerned about teachers who will be affected by the closure of some of these institutions. Their bread and butter issues are at stake and if not addressed, a lot of them will be without jobs and their families will suffer as a consequence. Our hope that these teachers will not lose their jobs come December 31, 2020. Mikaele Leawere Galoa Village, Serua
